Taxonomy Mini-Lesson

Animal Taxonomy

What Is Taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the scientific study of identifying, describing, and classifying organisms.


But what does that really mean?


Basically, taxonomy helps us put similar organisms into groups based on how similar they are. Taxonomy can be used for many different organisms, but we are going to focus on animals!

To decide what taxonomic group an animal belongs to, scientists look at characteristics, like...

  • DNA
  • Scale, skin, fur patterns
  • Native range
  • Life cycle
  • Diet
  • Endotherm or ectotherm
  • Vertebrate or invertebrate
  • SO many others!

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Taxonomic groups are organized into something called a taxonomic hierarchy, which looks like an upside-down pyramid.


Groups near the top of the pyramid (the widest section of the pyramid) are very broad and have many animals with just a few similarities. Groups on the other end of the pyramid (the narrowest section of the pyramid) are more specific, having just a few animals with a lot in common!


Click the drop-down arrows for more information about each taxonomic group.

  • DOMAIN

    Domains are the highest level of taxonomy! Three domains exist: 

    1. Bacteria

    2. Archeae (archaebacteria)

    3. Eurcarya (animals, plants, fungi, and protists)

  • KINGDOM

    Some scientists recognize six kingdoms of life, while others recognize five. Recognizing six kingdoms is more common in America. These kingdoms are...


    • Animalia
    • Plantae
    • Fungi
    • Protista
    • Eubacteria
    • Archaebacteria

    Animals belong to the kingdom Animalia!

  • PHYLUM

    There is debate over how many phyla exist!


    Phyla are made of groups of organisms that share major characteristics! Phyla exist in each kingdom. Some common phyla in the Animalia kingdom include...


    • Chordata (animals that have a spine, include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish!)
    • Arthropoda (insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans)
    • Mollusca (octopuses, clams, snails)
    • Cnidaria (corals, jellies)
    • Echinodermata (sea stars and sea urchins)
    • Annelida (worms)

  • CLASS

    A taxonomic class is a group of organisms that share more specific characteristics that make them a little different than the rest of the organisms in the phylum. There are classes for all living organisms, but some of the most common animal classes are...


    • Mammalia
    • Aves (birds)
    • Reptilia
    • Amphibia
    • Arachnida (spiders, scorpions)
    • Insecta (bees, beetles)
    • Cephalopoda (octopuses, squid)

  • ORDER

    An order is a taxonomic group of organisms that are even more closely related than those found in the class. Orders include organisms with slightly similar physical features and DNA. Examples of orders in the animal kingdom are...


    • Carnivora (meat-eating mammals)
    • Cetacea (whales)
    • Marsupials (mammals with a pouch)
    • Primates
    • Falconiformes (hawks, eagles)
    • Pelecaniformes (storks, pelicans)
    • Mantodea (mantises)
    • Hemiptera (true bugs)

  • FAMILY

    A family is a more specialized taxonomic group than a class. They are more closely related than all of the  individuals in the class. Examples of well-known families include...


    • Canidae (dogs)
    • Felidae (cats)
    • Testudinidae (tortoises)
    • Phoenicopteridae (flamingos)
    • Theraphosidae (tarantulas)

  • GENUS

    A genus is a group of organisms that included very closely related organisms. This taxonomic group is one step up from a species. 


    Some genuses have many species, like a tiger that has six living subspecies, while others have few or just one (like the whale shark that is the only member of their genus). 


    When writing a species Latin name, the genus is the capitalized first word. Common genuses include...


    • Panthera (all big cats, 5 species)
    • Canis (dogs, more than 30 species)
    • Struthio (ostiches, 2 species)
    • Danaus (butterflies, 12 species)
    • Crotalus (rattlesnakes, more than 30 speices)
    • Ursus (bears)

  • SPECIES

    Animals that belong to the same species are very closely related and are capable of producing healthy offspring. These organisms usually have similar physical and behavioral characteristics and are biologically alike. 


    In an organism's scientific name, the first word is the genus while the second describes the species. Examples of common species are: 


    • Panthera tigris (tiger)
    • Canis lupus (grey wolf)
    • Struthio camelus (common ostrich)
    • Danaus plexippus (monarch butterfly)
    • Crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake)
    • Ursus maritimus (polar bear)

  • SUBSPECIES

    Subspecies are animals within a particular species that have become genetically and physically separated from the rest of the species. Organisms within a subspecies are even more closely related than organisms within the whole species. Subspecies are recognized in an organism's scientific name in the third word. Not all species have subspecies!


    Common subspecies in the animal kingdom are...

    • Panthera tigris sumatrae (Sumatran tiger)
    • Panthera pardus pardus (African leopard)
    • Canis lupus baileyi (Mexican grey wolf)
    • Ceratotherium simum simum (southern white rhinoceros)
    • Antilocapra americana sonoriensis (Sonoran pronghorn)

More Than a Name

By using an animal's scientific name, we can get a better understanding of their taxonomy and their close relatives!

Scientific names for a species are written as "Genus species subspecies." This means we can identify an animal's scientific name by knowing their taxonomy OR we can figure out who their close relatives are by researching their genus!

ALWAYS LEARNING

SCIENCE IS ALWAYS CHANGING!

It is very important to remember that scientists are always learning and discovering new information! Advancements in technology and more research have helped scientists figure out how animals are related. As scientists study this new information, they sometimes have to change their taxonomic group!

Animals in a taxonomic group can change as scientists keep learning. 

Let's Check Out Some Taxonomic Hierarchy Examples!

Indian Leopard

Panthera pardus fusca

  • DOMAIN: Eukaryote

    All animals belong to the domain Eukarya, also known as Eukaryotes.


    Plants, fungi, and other microscopic organisms are also members of Eukarya!


  • KINGDOM: Animalia

    All animals belong to the kingdom Animalia! 


    All animals are multicellular organisms that eat organic material (other living things).


  • PHYLUM: Chordata

    Indian leopards, along with every other bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, and fish, belong to the phylum Chordata.


    Animals in the phylum Chordata have one major similarity: they have bones (they are vertebrates)! 


  • CLASS: Mammalia

    Indian leopards belong to the class Mammalia, meaning they are a mammal! 


    Animals in the class Mammalia are vertebrates, are warm-blooded (endothermic), have hair or fur,  produce milk for their young, and generally have live babies instead of laying eggs.


  • ORDER: Carnivora

    Indian leopards belong to the order Carnivora, as do all close relatives of cats and dogs.  This includes wolves, bears, lions, foxes, raccoons, hyenas, and seals!


    Animals in the order Carnivora are similiar in that they are all meat-eating mammals.


  • FAMILY: Felidae

    All leopards and their close cat relatives belong to the family Felidae (this is how we got the word feline!).


    All members of the Felidae family have fully or partially retractable claws, similar hunting strategies, and many other similar physical characteristics like their teeth, tails, and ability to climb.


  • GENUS: Panthera

    Leopards belong in the genus Panthera, which includes all of the big cats. 


    Animals in the genus Panthera have a large body size, similar DNA, and specialized bones. 


  • SPECIES: Panthera pardus

    The species Panthera pardus includes all subspecies of leopards and is used to when talking about leopards as a whole!


    Every member of this species has very similar physical characteristics (long tail, spots, retractable claws, yellow/orange color, ability to climb) and similar DNA! 


  • SUBSPECIES: Panthera pardus fusca

    Indian leopards are one of several subspecies of leopards! 


    Indian leopards live separately from other subspecies of leopards and have slightly different DNA, body size, and bone structure!


Common Ostrich

Struthio camelus

  • DOMAIN: Eukaryote

    All animals belong to the domain Eukarya, also known as Eukaryotes.


    Plants, fungi, and other microscopic organisms are also members of Eukarya!


  • KINGDOM: Animalia

    All animals belong to the kingdom Animalia! 


    All animals are multicellular organisms that eat organic material (other living things).


  • PHYLUM: Chordata

    Common ostriches, along with every other bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, and fish, belong to the phylum Chordata.


    Animals in the phylum Chordata have one major similarity: they have bones (they are vertebrates)! 


  • CLASS: Aves

    Common ostriches belong to the class Aves, meaning they are a bird! 


    Animals in the class Aves are vertebrates, are warm-blooded (endothermic), have feathers and wings, and lay eggs!


  • ORDER: Struthionidae

    Common ostriches belong to the order Struthionidae. This is a very small order and only includes the two living species of ostriches. 


    Birds in this order are large and flightless!


  • FAMILY: Struthionidae

    Both species of ostrich belong in the family Struthionidae! They are the only members of their family.


  • GENUS: Struthio

    Common ostriches are one of two species in the genus Struthio, the other being the smaller Somali ostrich.

  • SPECIES: Struthio camelus

    The common ostrich is identified as a separate species from the Somali ostrich because of differences in DNA, body size, and where they live!

Your Turn!

Select one of the animals below. Do some research and build their taxonomic hierarchy!

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Emperor Penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri

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